Registration Discussion

[Zablorg]

Well if the last few minutes have been any indication, the new registration system we've been working under for a while doesn't really work, or at least, it doesn't work against trolls. Any dumbshit with an online calculator can find the answer to the math question and troll up the board on a daily basis if he put just a little bit of effort into it.

So it is here we shall discuss possible changes to the system to account for such irritations. I personally wouldn't mind going back to the moderator registration thing.

[Mr. Coffee]

Seconded. Going to this anyone can join shit for the sake of convenience was the dumbest idea in the history of the board.

[Alyeska]

This is being discussed, do not worry.

[Coyote]

I have to say, that is a good idea. A pain it may be, but since it looks like we have their attention for the time being, we're going to have to post a Horatio at the Bridge again.

[Hotfoot]

Right now, let's just turn registration OFF for a few days. Won't hurt any.

[Instant Sunrise]

Right now, let's just turn registration OFF for a few days. Won't hurt any.

I support this idea. Shut down registration for a few days, let the heat die town and all the chantards get bored and go elsewhere.

If somebody really wants to join the SDN community, they can wait a few days.

[Ohma]

So do people still have to pay for an account? Or was that what required mod attention in the first place?

[Rye]

Turn it back on for the time being and don't accept any accounts for at least 2 weeks, by which time they'll be bored, presumably.

[Samuel]

So do people still have to pay for an account? Or was that what required mod attention in the first place?

Nope, people don't have to pay. At least I didn't. Although I'd like it as a nice alternative- making money off trolls could be profitable enough so that the boss doesn't have to dip into his own pocket.

Maybe we should have questions about the history of Star Wars v Star Trek. A bit harder to use the net to search and find.

[Kie99]

So do people still have to pay for an account? Or was that what required mod attention in the first place?

You can either pay or register with a non-free e-mail address such as work/college/school/ISP.

[The Romulan Republic]

I'm inclined to think it would be a bad idea to restrict membership much. I'm sure others disagree, but I feel this board is stagnant enough as it is. Keeping out trolls is all well and fine, but how high do we set the bar before we become stagnant? What should the criteria be? Their is more than one measure of intelligence, and their are many ways in which posters can make worthwhile contributions.

You'll never be able to make 100% sure no trolls ever join, short of blocking all new memberships or shutting down the forum outright. If you feel that SDN's life as an active forum has run its course, fine. But if not, is it really that hard to ban someone after the fact if they prove to be a problem?

[The Romulan Republic]

Well if the last few minutes have been any indication, the new registration system we've been working under for a while doesn't really work, or at least, it doesn't work against trolls. Any dumbshit with an online calculator can find the answer to the math question and troll up the board on a daily basis if he put just a little bit of effort into it.

Or someone can know high school math and still be a jackass with retarded ideas. And sometimes those who aren't great at math can make valuable contributions. Really, that particular safeguard always seemed stupid to me. Its certainly a poor garuntee against trolling.

So it is here we shall discuss possible changes to the system to account for such irritations. I personally wouldn't mind going back to the moderator registration thing.

How does that work? You mean applicants submit their application to a moderator for review or something?

Heh, now I've got this picture of someone submitting a resume of all the forums they've been on to a guy in a suit or something. But seriously, I didn't join under this system, so how does it work?

[Coyote]

Actually, we've enjoyed a lot of new posters of late; it's been a pretty good time for new accounts. For awhile there, several months ago, it was stagnant as hell.

But then, DW also does something here that few boards do; and that is he purges members that sign up but never post, or posted maybe 2-3 times a year + ago and never posted again, that sort of thing. So I don't think there are any records to show when we've had highs & lulls in people joining.

[Mr. Coffee]

Here's an idea, bring back the old style of moderator approved new membership and get two or three volunteers whose only function is to weed through membership requests.

[Stark]

Absolutely. The 'keep the dummies out' experiment is a failure, especially against organised stuff like this.

[The Romulan Republic]

Here's an idea, bring back the old style of moderator approved new membership and get two or three volunteers whose only function is to weed through membership requests.

If we go by that system, would their be any particular criteria for these volunteers to use to determine weather to allow membership applications, or would they simply be trusted to use their best judgement?

[Flagg]

Here's an idea, bring back the old style of moderator approved new membership and get two or three volunteers whose only function is to weed through membership requests.

If we go by that system, would their be any particular criteria for these volunteers to use to determine weather to allow membership applications, or would they simply be trusted to use their best judgement?

Just like before the change we go with "best judgment". It keeps out obvious trolls like "anonlul" and spammers as well as having a waiting period while the applications for registration are processed so organized attacks are harder.

[Invictus ChiKen]

Here's an idea, bring back the old style of moderator approved new membership and get two or three volunteers whose only function is to weed through membership requests.

If we go by that system, would their be any particular criteria for these volunteers to use to determine weather to allow membership applications, or would they simply be trusted to use their best judgement?

Might I recommend limiting there initial posts to a certain area of the forum and after a set amount of time turn them lose. Being restricted to this area might also be used as a punishment so double bonus.

[Zablorg]

Here's an idea, bring back the old style of moderator approved new membership and get two or three volunteers whose only function is to weed through membership requests.

If we go by that system, would their be any particular criteria for these volunteers to use to determine weather to allow membership applications, or would they simply be trusted to use their best judgement?

Might I recommend limiting there initial posts to a certain area of the forum and after a set amount of time turn them lose. Being restricted to this area might also be used as a punishment so double bonus.

And what area do you think would work well? Just about any forum can be adequetely trolled, so unless they're being confined to testing, I don't really see the point.

I'm pretty neuteral towards morons with moronic ideas getting in. They will undoubtedly get what would be coming to them. My main concern is that the current system is extraordinarily troll-friendly. Why, I could snap off five dozen accounts in a day if I put the effort in.

[The Romulan Republic]

Here's an idea, bring back the old style of moderator approved new membership and get two or three volunteers whose only function is to weed through membership requests.

If we go by that system, would their be any particular criteria for these volunteers to use to determine weather to allow membership applications, or would they simply be trusted to use their best judgement?

Just like before the change we go with "best judgment". It keeps out obvious trolls like "anonlul" and spammers as well as having a waiting period while the applications for registration are processed so organized attacks are harder.

What about abuse of position? To use my name as an example, let's say someone saw an application for a user named The Romulan Republic, assumed they must be a Trekky, and dismissed their application accordingly? I'm not saying that kind of thing is likely, but would their be any garuntee that people would not abuse their position?

[Invictus ChiKen]

And what area do you think would work well? Just about any forum can be adequetely trolled, so unless they're being confined to testing, I don't really see the point.

I'm pretty neuteral towards morons with moronic ideas getting in. They will undoubtedly get what would be coming to them. My main concern is that the current system is extraordinarily troll-friendly. Why, I could snap off five dozen accounts in a day if I put the effort in.

Actually that was sorta my idea. Move the Senate from system to Gallery and add two new forums to join testing in System and there we go a proving ground to keep out trolls as few trolls are known to have the patience to keep going.

[Invictus ChiKen]

Oh now this is just getting sad!

[Flagg]

If we go by that system, would their be any particular criteria for these volunteers to use to determine weather to allow membership applications, or would they simply be trusted to use their best judgement?

Just like before the change we go with "best judgment". It keeps out obvious trolls like "anonlul" and spammers as well as having a waiting period while the applications for registration are processed so organized attacks are harder.

What about abuse of position? To use my name as an example, let's say someone saw an application for a user named The Romulan Republic, assumed they must be a Trekky, and dismissed their application accordingly? I'm not saying that kind of thing is likely, but would their be any garuntee that people would not abuse their position?

That to my knowledge was never an issue in the years during which we had the registration confirmation system. Could it happen? Sure, but it's a small risk and not one I think anyone should be realistically concerned about.

[Alyeska]

Stop responding to the trolls. Report the post, IM us if you can, and leave it at that.

[Ohma]

I do honestly think that the pay to register system should be back in place. It's more of a hassle, but it does keep out most of the total dickbrains, and it also helps keep the board afloat.